Self-harm clips hidden in kids' cartoons

A US pediatrician is raising an alarm about instructions on how to slit one's wrists posted in YouTube videos targeted at children - showing that inappropriate content continues to slip through the online streaming site's filters.

Tony Stower, head of child safety online at the NSPCC told the BBC: "Tech giants have a responsibility to protect children on their platforms, but YouTube and YouTube Kids keep failing to tackle disturbing videos like this". "Remember, children", he begins, holding what appears to be an imaginary blade to the inside of his arm.

The video has since been removed, according to Hess.

"We rely on both user flagging and smart detection technology to flag this content for our reviewers", Ms Faville added.

Hess, who is a pediatrician, alerted YouTube to pull down the video, and she said it took about a week for the firm to take it down.

"I think it's extremely unsafe for our kids", Hess said about the clips Sunday in a phone interview with The Washington Post. "We also need to fight to have the developers of social media platforms held responsible when they do not assure that age restrictions are followed and when they do not remove inappropriate and/or unsafe material when reported". She has been working towards bringing these videos down after an outcry from parents and child care professionals alike.

"Every quarter we remove millions of videos and channels that violate our policies and we remove the majority of these videos before they have any views", the spokesperson said. Since then, she has reported several hundred inappropriate clips to YouTube. She recorded it, wrote about it, and reported the content to the video-sharing platform, she said.

YouTube has long struggled with how to keep the platform free from such material - removing hateful and violent videos, banning unsafe pranks and cracking down on child sexual exploitation.

The sinister content was first flagged by doctors on the pediatrician-run parenting blog pedimom.com and later reported by the Washington Post An anonymous "physician mother" initially spotted the content while watching cartoons with her son on YouTube Kids as a distraction while he had a nosebleed. Licensed child psychologist Nikel Rogers-Wood, Ph.D., of Rice Psychology in Tampa, said the videos prove parents have to be aware.

"In this next cartoon a young girl commits suicide with a knife after her father dies and her boyfriend breaks up with her", Hess said of another.

Dr Kaslow, who teaches at Emory University's school of medicine, said that some children who are more vulnerable may be drawn to such grim content. "There needs to be messaging-this is why it's not okay".

"Unlike YouTube itself, YouTube Kids is supposed to be specifically FOR kids".

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or depression, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

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